RUGBY WILL CHANGE WITH THE NEW LAWS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30442, 16 May 1964, Page 11

RUGBY WILL CHANGE WITH THE NEW LAWS

THE first four rounds of the senior Rugby competition have proved that Rugby is a faster and more entertaining game under the new rules. But it may be too early yet to state definitely that what has been seen so far this season will remain a permanent part of Rugby. It would be altogether too naive to think that for the remainder of the season backs are going to continue standing more than 10 yards from the line-out or well behind the base of the scrum; that loose forwards will continue to observe not only the letter of the laws but their spirit, or that teams will not devise defensive methods to counter back play which is encouraged by the laws.

The most obvious feature of back play under the new rules has been the attempts by most teams to use chain passing to the wings as the main method of attack. In most cases it has not been entirely successful, first because of the technical limitations of most backs in passing and catching the ball and secondly because mechanical chain passing, unless done very quickly and expertly, is easy to counter by cover defence.

What can be expected now is not so much chain passing, but a greater emphasis on penetration in the mid-field.

The new rules really demand two half-backs who can pass quickly, and two centres with attacking skills. The second fiveeighths probably will become the pivot of the attack, directing the kicking and with the centre and the running full-back providing the thrust from which chances for the wings can be created.

This trend towards greater use of attacking play in mid-field already has been a prominent part of the attacking schemes of the more skilful teams, and University A, with its polished combination of R. C. Moreton and P. A. Hutchison has been quick to seize on the chances the new laws provide.

Chain passing must still remain as one of the bases of back play, but players will have to re-learn the art of finger-tip passing and apply it with the same degree of skill that is used in

creating gaps and beating an opposing player. The games so far have provided a heady draught for the backs with their hither and thither running untrammelled by the attentions of loose forwards, but it has been the forwards who have suffered the hangover.

Not surprisingly, there have been some mutterings from the forwards that they now have to run all over the field chasing the backs and that the game has become all shadow and no substance.

(This is the second and final article discussing the changes and the trends that may come from the new Rugby laws.)

No doubt a prop takes a jaundiced view of all this running, but the point is made: forwards now have to be faster if they are going to be any use to their team. It was thought initially that the new rules might mean the end of the rucking game, but this will not be so. What has happened is that the breakdowns are going to occur further away from the scrum or line-out, so that forwards have to be fit and fast to get to these breakdowns to win possession. This does not mean that a new breed of small and fast forwards will appear; rather, forwards will now have to be fast and big. For with the greater chances for backs, possession is vital; big men are needed in the line-outs and, of course, still in the scrums and in the rucks. That the new laws still provide ample scope for attacking play by the forwards has been demonstrated by University A, but the difference now is that the attacks have to be generated by the skill of one team,

not merely by seizing on the mistakes of opponents. Which means that the constructive player will replace the destructive player. But perhaps the greatest Interest in the development of Rugby under the new laws will be in the defensive measures that will be concocted to meet the threat imposed by good back-lines. As yet there seems to be little thought on defensive schemes. Most teams now are relying on man for man tackling and a corner flagging No. 8. The latter has hardly been successful. Usually, after a scrum or line-out, he lopes determinedly across field, hoping he may arrive where the ball may be. In one or two matches, the No. 8 after carrying out this task, has suddenly found himself stranded by a first fiveeighths who has cut back Infield through a barren defence. Probably the best defensive method would be the “staircase”, which involves three players. It is basically applicable to the scrum but also can be used in the lineout. The aim is for the No. 8 forward to cover his centre, the open side breakaway to cover his first fiveeighths and the blind-side wing to cover his second five-eighths, thus creating a defence in depth.

The other defensive move that is certain to occur is that teams which are losing possession will place a forward in the backs to act as a roving defender; particularly where the opposing team is using its full-back as an extra back; and the use of the running full back has been very common this season.

But even if defensive measures become highly scientific, they will not be able to impose the stranglehold on back play that loose forwards could under the old laws. Backs will have to adopt new attacking ploys to circumvent any such measures; now, at least, they have all the opportunities to do this.